Monday, October 1, 2007

In Memoriam: Lois Maxwell

Canadian-born actress Lois Maxwell, who was the definitive Miss Moneypenny in many James Bond films, has passed away at age 80. She had been battling cancer. Maxwell, was the demure foil to Bond's suave rake in 14 films from 1962's "Dr. No" to 1985's "A View to a Kill." In the Bond films, Moneypenny (as secretary to Bond's chief M in British intelligence) has a flirtatious relationship with the spy, evidently attracted to him but never succumbing to his advances. It was a role to which Maxwell gave a bantering edge that is missing in Ian Fleming's novels. Although officially her character's first name was Jane, Moneypenny is referred to only by her last name or a diminutive of it -- Penny.

Maxwell became close friends with Roger Moore, who succeeded Sean Connery as Bond in 1973. "She was a very fine actress and had a great sense of humor," Moore told BBC television on Sunday.

How it all began ....

In 1933, publishers at Eastern Color Press, intent to make better use of their printing equipment (which frequently sat idle between jobs), came up with the idea of printing an 8-page comic section that could be folded down from the large broadsheet to a smaller 9-inch by 12-inch format. The result was the first modern comic book. Containing reprints of newspaper comic strips, this experimental comic book titled "Funnies On Parade" was given away for free. It proved so popular that the following year Eastern published "Famous Funnies" and took the bold step of selling the comic for ten cents through chain stores. The enterprise was a smashing success and Eastern began churning out numerous reprints on a monthly basis. Other publishers, eager to get in on the profits, jumped on the bandwagon and the comic book industry was born!